คลอง
canal
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- 1 canal、waterway
This word refers to a long, narrow channel through which water flows, whether natural or man-made. It commonly describes canals, irrigation channels, and smaller waterways in Thailand.
canal、waterway
A long, narrow watercourse, especially a canal, irrigation channel, or smaller natural waterway.
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บ้านอยู่ริมคลอง bâan yùu rim khlɔɔŋ The house is by the canal. บ้านอยู่ริมคลอง details
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ชาวบ้านช่วยกันขุดคลอง chaaw bâan chûay kan khùt khlɔɔŋ The villagers worked together to dig a canal. ชาวบ้านช่วยกันขุดคลอง details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central image of คลอง is a long, narrow passage for water. Although “canal” is its most typical translation, it can also refer to a relatively small natural watercourse. Canals and waterways are prominent in Thailand and are used for transportation, irrigation, and drainage. Common combinations include ริมคลอง “along the canal,” ข้ามคลอง “cross a canal,” and น้ำในคลอง “water in the canal.” The classifier สาย is commonly used when counting waterways: คลองสองสาย means “two canals.” In names such as คลองแสนแสบ, คลอง comes before the proper name.
Usage
It is commonly used when discussing canal-side homes and neighborhoods, boat travel, directions, irrigation, flooding, and drainage. The word also appears frequently in Thai place names, especially in Bangkok.
Caution
คลอง is not limited to man-made canals; it may also describe a natural watercourse. It appears in anatomical compounds such as คลองรากฟัน “root canal,” but by itself it normally refers to a geographical waterway.
Differences from similar words
1 canal synonyms
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คู usually refers to a narrower dug channel, such as a roadside ditch, drainage ditch, or moat. คลอง more broadly describes an established waterway, including navigable and irrigation canals.
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ลำคลอง also means a canal or waterway and usually refers to the same kind of feature as คลอง. It often presents the watercourse as a complete geographical feature.
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แม่น้ำ refers to a major river, such as the Chao Phraya. คลอง generally describes a smaller canal or watercourse.